The document provides instructions for a 3rd grade current events assignment. Students are asked to find a news article about weather that is no more than 2 weeks old and how it affected a local community or elsewhere in the world. They need to fill out an organizer summarizing the article, why it's important, and why they chose it. Then they must rewrite this information into two paragraphs - one summarizing the article and one on the other details. The assignment is due on Friday and needs to include the completed organizer, article/information, and final typed or written copy.

1. Name: ___________________ # _____ Date: ____________________
February 22, 2011
Current Event:
Weather Article, 3rd Grade
This week you will be looking for a current event that is about how the weather could be
affecting our community or some other part of the world. The story you choose can be about
how the weather has been affecting Benicia or some of the cities nearby, or even how the
weather is affecting somewhere else in the world. Remember to choose a story that is no more
than 2 weeks old. Although local newspapers are great for finding information about things
going on close to where we live, you may want to choose a larger and more widely known
newspaper like The New York Times for stories about places further away. Many newspapers
have online versions that they update daily if you do not subscribe to a newspaper. Another
great place to look is the public library. They subscribe to many different newspapers and also
have internet access available.
After you have chosen your story complete the form on the back of this page to help
you organize your thoughts. Your writing will need to include a summary of the article or story,
explain why the article is important or who it will affect, and tell about why you chose this story.
After filling in the organizer on the back, you will need to rewrite your information into two
separate paragraphs. One paragraph for your summary, and another paragraph for your
other information. Your final copy should be written in ink or typed. Have fun and happy
current event hunting!
Remember:
• A summary is a paragraph that includes only the main details of the article. Only
include the information that is the most important and leave out the smaller details.
• The story or article you choose must be current! You cannot choose a story that is
more than 2 weeks old.
• Your current events are due Friday. When you turn them in they should include a
completed back page, the article or story / information about the news program, and a
final copy of your information that is written in ink or typed.
• Have a parent proofread your writing to check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
• Your organizer is your rough draft. You do not have to write a rough draft after filling
in the organizer if you don’t want to.

2. Name of Newspaper or Other Source: ______________________________________________
Date of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Title of Article or Story: ___________________________________________________________
Summary (remember to just include the main points!): __________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
You can attach another sheet of paper if you need more space.
Why was this story important and who will it affect the most? ___________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Why did this story interest you? ____________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
• Make sure a parent or other adult proofreads your work before you do your final copy!